Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Heads When They Hear A Noise?
We can often observe that dogs lower their heads while listening to what is happening around them. You’ve probably noticed this movement when you demonstrate to him that it’s time for a walk or to play with his favorite toys.
But this movement is not always so positive. It can also indicate that the animal is in poor health. To distinguish the origin of this inclination, some information about this specific dog movement is needed.
Why do dogs bow their heads?
Dogs are very communicative animals. By listening to us they can read us. It’s been proven that they can learn an average of 165 words. That’s why when they hear us say certain words, they respond to our message using body language, especially using their head and ears to indicate the response.
On the one hand, the tilt of a dog’s head is associated with the way in which they can communicate with their owners.
This is related to body language and has to do with the idea that dogs are always hearing the highest sounds, those sounds that for a human being can be considered ultrasonic.
That is, they start hearing about 60,000 cycles per second, whereas humans do not exceed 20,000 cycles. They can also detect faint sounds that may be happening several meters away, which to the human ear is imperceptible.
An example of this hearing acuity can be checked at night. You will notice that dogs move their ears to detect any sound continuously. No doubt the small ends of our canine friends act like antennae in the dark.
Dogs also nod their heads when their owners make them feel good. In this sense, our affectionate tone of voice allows the dog to understand that we are saying something good.
The way they nod their heads depends on their race. Different races hear sounds with their heads in different positions. A dog tilts its head to change the position of its ears, that is, to hear better or to determine where the sound is coming from.
Dogs can’t tell us when they’re not feeling well, so it’s important to know their body language. This will help determine if he nods his head because he wants to hear better or if it’s because of an illness he may be developing, sometimes there may be something in his ear that is obstructing his hearing, or he may have contracted some sort of infection.
Often, the dogs often break the blood vessels of the ear, causing bruising. A swollen ear requires an ear puncture to relieve swelling. This is usually caused when dogs scratch their ears, or the ear, incipiently.
Pay close attention, as this could be a sign that your pet probably has ear mites or a foreign object.
We should also pay close attention to dogs that like to swim or play in water, as they can develop ear infections, causing severe irritation.
On the other hand, head tilt can also be caused by thyroid problems, brain inflammation, perforated eardrum, head trauma, or cancer.
So, you always have to be aware of any changes in your dog’s body language as it can help determine the causes of this movement.
Signs You Should Consider
Another possible way to verify the cause of head tilt is through feeding. If you find that he no longer has much appetite or that he is continually trying to open his mouth for no reason, check for redness around his ear and also ear pain. In such cases, it is advisable that you take him to the veterinarian.
Finally, if you notice that your pet is staggering, walking in circles or falling, perhaps these signs could indicate that he has an inner ear problem. So, see your veterinarian right away.
